So You Have $100k to Spend....

Hey! That's my car! Thanks for the plug.

 

Yes they are cool.
I always liked them and was on the "to do" list.

However it completely BLOWS my mind that a mass produced steel 6 cyl Mercedes 280SL is in the same price ball park as a Boxer.

Think about it.

 

I didn't realize that such cars are approaching $100K. It has, indeed, tremendous presence, but I prefer the sportier drive of other brands from the same period - Alfa GTV, Porsche 911/914. I enjoyed driving a characterful Euro 280SL as a short term daily driver around five summers ago. The four speed is a bit short for freeway driving and the steering is a bit slow. The rare 5 speed seem more promising. Having said this, any of the 280 (SL/SE/SEL 6.3/4.5/3.5) series have always been endearing to me.

 

Totally agree. I love them at $40k. Above that, I like watching other people drive them around.

But the again I feel that way about a lot of things. I pretty much have the things that I want but there are a lot of things that I love seeing. So if someone wants to spend $100k on a pagoda (or $300k on a 458) and drive it around so I can see it in motion, awesome. But we all have our own ideas about smiles per dollar and that's why there are so many sweet cars out there - cars we love to see, even if not necessarily love to own.

 

I drove an Esprit SE back when they came out, the Porsche dealer sold Lotus cars back then. I'm finding myself wanting to buy cars that I liked back when I was a teenager. I'm feeling going back to 308/328 euro/gtb, along with a Lotus Esprit, another NSX as I can't forget that ride, Porsche 993 S or 996GT3 are some choices I would like to try, just two cars at a time. The new cars are great, but they are capable of too much performance for the street, depreciation, and they are not really doing it for me.

 

If you'll consider a rare Porsche, then start hunting for a 1992 964 Turbo S2. Same body as the 1994 Turbo 3.6, more HP, less weight, and only 24 ever built for homologation purposes (fewer than that still survive).

 

I think $100K is the high end -- I'm sure you can get a very nice driver for $50K.

Agree with you on the sportier drive of the others.

 

It is interesting. I think market value for potential collector cars comes down to some function of style, rarity, driveability, cost to maintain/quality and historical significance.

If you compare:

Style: debatable but the 230/250/280 SLs are widely regarded as handsome, stylish cars. The Boxer, with its wedge shape and Imperial star destroyer rear deck detail, works for some people more than others. Those of us who like 308/328s tend to like Boxers. For younger people coming of age in the amoeba-car era, not so sure. I also think the Mercedes design touches in those days -- look at the instrument panel and dash top -- are timeless.

Rarity: Boxer is, Merc isn't. OTOH, Boxer spares can be rare, which isn't so great.

Driveability: Boxer is an occasion, Merc could be a daily driver, with little penalty for mileage on the odometer. For most people, the SL is more appealing because it can be used more.

Maintenance/quality: This where I think Merc has an advantage. I imagine a rebuild on the six-cylinder 280 SL would be doable for the price of a major major service on a Boxer, and the Mercedes spares network is the best in the world. Boxers scare people away with potential service bills.

Historical significance: Should go to the Boxer, but the chromed-up SLs have a Hollywood/French Riviera quality to them that you can't get anymore, in any car. Maybe because they were so prevalent they became more widely stamped into our consciousness.

So, while the Boxer seems like a better value at $120K, I definitely understand why the very best 280 SLs are closing the gap.

</very long hijack>

 

Yeah but a good one.

I JUST sold my Survivor 1966 Pagoda SL (last month) at Gooding in AZ. It was really-really fine, and I had cared for it many years. It was a true original to high standards & recently judged by Mercedes Classic Center to be as original as I stated. But it was SO original that I got to the point of being afraid to drive it (in fear of a rock chip or ding). So I let it go.

It was fun to drive around town, but it was not a great highway car. It handled well, was low on maintenance and did have hansom style in abundance.

Originally I thought $65,000 would be the price (nearly show quality fully documented Survivor 230SL). Gooding however stated six figures would be a good pre-auction estimate. I rolled with it (what am I going to say? No?) and it hammered at $75k or so when all done. I wanted it to go $100k+ but the market is not there on museum quality a 230... Yet. Maybe a fully restored one (with a $100k restoration), but people could not get their minds wrapped around my Survivor for that.

The 230 was really the good one (lighter, more sporting, less tacked on bits) but it seems that EVERYONE wants a 280.

Good cars.
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Testarossa.

Guys that had these on posters on their walls as kids have bought a home, gotten married, and accumulated some wealth. The dream car of their youth is what they'll turn to.

Testarossa, F-40's, Countach, Diablo - prices are so low now. Another surge in the economy and they could be gone for good.

 

F-40's left the bargain basement awhile ago. If 300k could be considered a bargain.
Countach is an icon. Killer investment IMO.
Diablo a better driver for me a big guy. I remember when the Countach and Diablo both came out.
The buzz for the Countach was many magnitudes greater.

 

True, but am convinced they'll be million dollar cars at some point in my lifetime.

 

If Obama wins; next year.
But a gallon of gas and a loaf of bread will be $10 as well.
Win ?

 

And $10 will be $1.

 

For the OP, this is an important consideration. I had a car in which I was in the same boat about driving it. To a less extent, I feel similar about my current 328 in that I don't drive it enough. Hence, I'm putting in the market, see if it sells, and then get one I would not mind accumulating miles and wear/tear. Otherwise, I need to get over this feeling and drive it like a driver as I did my previous 3x8s.

 

Yeah, it's true. I considered a driver-level 308 back when I had my 328, but the idea of having a car to drive and a car to not drive convinced me that my already loose grip on sanity was slipping.

I'm actually enjoying the resto process on my current Porsche. The restorer told me he keeps the paint they mix for each project and that "there is nothing you can do to it that I can't fix." (Of course he left the money part out...) I'm trying to embrace that as my attitude.

 

Yes, it has to be part of the thought process. They can only be original once.

I always thought "...I will sell the painfully original 230 to a museum and get a restored Pagoda for LESS that can be fixed again & again without worry..."

I have had that Pagoda for many years though, and there are other cars that I covet so my Pagoda days are past - but along the way I learned many lessons with it.

 

Jumping into this thread late. I of course am a life long Ferrari nut! An absolute fanatic.

However and of course this is person taste, at the op's price point I would have fresh Fourintune restored Austin Healey. Probably a late 3000 BJ8, but if I could stretch to an earlier 100M I would. My restored BJ8 color scheme would be old english white, red cove, red Leather interior, white piping and red top.

My other option at that price point would be to buy an 89' 328 GTB or a dry sump 76' glass car. Both in immaculate condition, bank whatever dough is left.